torah

Looking up to the heavens

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The concluding section of our parasha, Beshalach, contains the account of our ancestors’ mortal combat with Amalek, the marauding desert tribe that sought to destroy us after our departure from Egypt.

The narrative begins with a pasuk that reverberates until our own historical moment: “Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim” (Shemot 17:8). Moshe immediately recognized the gravity of the situation, and quickly responded to this existential threat against our fledgling nation. He told Yehoshua to go out and fight, while he stood at the top of the hill watching (17:9-10).

His reaction was swift and immediately understandable. The next verse, however, is difficult to comprehend: “It came to pass that when Moshe would raise his hand, Israel would prevail, and when he would lay down his hand, Amalek would prevail.”

Why would Moshe raising or lowering his hand have anything to do with our people’s success or failure in their battle against Amalek? Unsurprisingly, parallel versions of this question have been asked by our Sages of blessed memory, in both the Mechilta d’Rabbi Yishmael and Mishnah Rosh Hashanah III:8. The answer given by the Mechilta is particularly pertinent:

“And is it possible that Moshe’s hands could make the Jewish people victorious, or could they destroy Amalek? Rather, whenever Moshe would raise them toward Heaven, the Jewish people would look upon him, and believe in the One who designated Moshe to act in this manner. At those times, the Holy One blessed be He would perform miracles and mighty deeds for them” (Mechilta d’Rabbi Yishmael, Mesechta d’Amalek I, s.v. v’hayah ka’asher).

In my estimation, the Mechilta is teaching us that Moshe’s hands pointing heavenward were teaching devices to instruct our ancestors in belief in Hashem and impress upon them that “not by military force and not by physical strength, but by My spirit, says the L-rd of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

After all, there appeared to be no way an untrained and inexperienced band of Jewish guerrilla fighters could win a battle against Amalek’s impeccably skilled soldiers, whose trade was murder and mayhem. Yet, when they looked toward the heavens and focused upon the immanent presence of the Almighty in their lives, they won!

Moshe wanted the Jewish people to realize that there is one place, and one place only, from which authentic salvation will come. As David Hamelech proclaimed: “I shall raise my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come? My help is from the L-rd, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Tehillim 121).

Although, thank G-d, the actual tribe of Amalek no longer exists, its successors continue to infect humanity with their vitriolic hatred. This idea was given powerful voice by my rebbe and mentor, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik zt”l, in his synopsis of the dark forces that continue to drive the Amalek way of life:

“At a Mizrachi convention I cited the view expressed by my father, Rav Moshe Soloveitchik zt”l, and master of blessed memory, that the proclamation, ‘The L-rd will have war with Amalek from generation to generation’ (Exodus 17:16) does not only translate into the communal exercise of waging obligatory war against a specific race but includes as well the obligation to rise up as a community against any people or group that, filled with maniacal hatred, directs its enmity against [the Jewish people].

“When a people emblazons on its banner, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation: that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance’ (Psalms 83:5) it becomes, thereby, Amalek. In the 1930’s and 1940’s the Nazis, with Hitler at their head, filled this role. They were the Amalekites, the standard-bearers of insane hatred and enmity during the era just past” (Kol Dodi Dofek, pages 65-66 from the English translation Fate and Destiny).

We must never forget that anti-Semitism, and the denial of the existence of Hashem, are the principles — by which and for which — Amalek lives. Moreover, Amalek has one undeniable goal: to destroy each and every one of the Jewish people so that G-d’s name would be obliterated from the world.

We must ever be vigilant, and stand shoulder to shoulder to ensure the physical and spiritual safety of our fellow Jews, wherever they may be